Geneva, 3 September 2009 A 7.0 Richter Scale earthquake struck several districts in West Java on 2 September 2009. The epicenter was located 142 km from Tasikmalaya at a depth of about 50 km. The earthquake was also felt in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Bali. A tsunami warning was issued but withdrawn one hour later.
The earthquake has caused some destruction which is still being assessed.
ACT member Church World Service has reported the following:
Cianjur District: Some buildings are severely damaged; the death toll of 10 is reported due to landslides following the earthquake; 12 houses are heavily damaged in Jembrong subdistrict; Cikado's Subdistrict office building is also destroyed; 38 houses are heavily damaged in Warung Kondang subdistrict; and at least 20 houses are heavily damaged in other subdistricts. A bridge and Puskesmas (community health center) in Leles subdistrict was also destroyed.
Garut District: South Garut is the hardest hit. Around 500 houses are heavily damaged; 10 people died; and 23 people were injured. Most houses in the coastal area are destroyed.
Sukabumi District: Hundreds of houses are heavily damaged; 2 persons died.
Bandung District: 10 office buildings have collapsed.
Tasikmalaya District: The most affected area is Cipatujah Subdistrict. The local government reported that 70 percent of the houses and buildings collapsed in Ciheras village. Tasikmalaya city had no significant damage, and the electricity and cell phone networks have been restored.
| No. | City/District | Heavily
injured
(people) | lightly
injured
(people) | Death
toll | IDPs | Heavily
damaged
house/building | Moderately
damaged
ouse/building | Lightly
damaged
house/building |
| 1. | Garut | 14 | 18 | 10 | n.a. | 500 | n.a. | n.a. |
| 2. | Cianjur | 4 | 10 | 10 | 450 | 70 | n.a. | n.a. |
| 3. | Bandung
(district) | 18 | 73 | 8 | n.a. | 10 | n.a. | n.a. |
| 4. | West Bandung | 0 | 7 | 1 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| 5. | Ciamis | 5 | 0 | 4 | n.a. | 5085 | 6211 | n.a. |
| 6. | Sukabumi | n.a. | n.a. | 2 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| 7. | Tasik (district) | 62 | 29 | 9 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| 8. | Tasik (city) | 1 | 19 | 3 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| 9. | Kuningan | n.a | n.a. |  | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| 10. | Bogor | n.a. | n.a. | 2 | 180 | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Total of 10
districts | 104 | 156 | 46 | 630 | 5665 | 6211 |
|
* Compiled from various sources (Operational Control Center of BNPB and Social welfare of West Java)
There are hundreds of IDPs needing rapid assistance. The most urgently needed items are food, shelter, mats and blankets.
Response from Government: Natural Disaster Mitigation Task Force (Satkorlak PB) has prepared materials to be distributed to Bandung, Garut, Cianjur and Tasikmalaya districts. An emergency response team has been mobilized to go to the affected areas with the following items: 40 platoon tents, 80 group tents, 100 family tents, 1,000 rolling tents, 400 kitchen sets, 400 sets of clothes, 400 sets of children's clothing, 400 family kits, 1,000 blankets and 1,000 mats.
The Head of Health Agency (Dinkes) Bandung district reports that an emergency health post has been set up in Puskesmas Pengalengan and medicines and ambulances along with medical personnel have been provided.
ACT member Church World Service Response: CWS is sending a rapid assessment team to Tasikmalaya and Garut on 3 September 2009 to gather information on the impact of the earthquake and need assessment of IDPs, especially those who have limited access to aid. The team will also provide the following assistance: 10 tarpaulins (5x4 & 5x7); 50 mosquito nets; 50 blankets; 80 mats and 8 large ropes.
ACT members Yayasan Tangggul Bencana di Indonesia (YTBI) and Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU) have decided to intervene in Pamengkeup district as very little help has reached the area and there are many affected people. Both YTBI and YEU will use their own Rapid Response Funds to purchase the most urgently needed relief items. To date YEU had transported non-food items such as tarpaulins and blankets to the area. YEU and YTBI will buy food items locally or as near as possible to the place of intervention.
The ACT members mentioned above are currently carrying out assessments and will keep the ACT CO updated.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).
Thank you for your attention.
For further information please contact:
ACT Director, John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or
ACT Deputy Director, Robert White (phone +41 22 791 6047 or mobile phone +41 79 857 5334) or
Programme Assistant, Gaby Bartholomew (phone +41 22 791 6036)
ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org
